200 protest against NEMA

By Kenneth OtimOver 200 people working in stone quarries have protested against the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) plans to stop them from quarrying Opiyai rock in Soroti town.The group led by their chairman, John Bosco Echen, said they earned their living from the rock. “The majority of us are illiterate how will we manage businesses based on loans? We are used to this type of work,” Echen said. “Stopping these people from quarrying will mean denying their children education because this is their source of income,” he added.The riot started after a news story on Voice of Teso said NEMA would use force to send away the quarry workers. The workers vowed not to leave the rock if NEMA uses force to move them without calling for a meeting where they would express their views.“If NEMA comes with rubber bullets we shall hold our stones,” the workers shouted.They claimed to have got a certificate under the name Moropyai Rock Association. Ends